US Immigration from Kenya

I myself I'm bamboozled by this...but is USCIS now starting to call petitioners to take fingerprints/biometrics? I've viewed the notice in question and can confirm that USCIS called the petitioner on his I-130 notice, to go for biometrics.

Is this the new norm?

As far as I know, only beneficiaries do biometrics.

Hello,

I am a LPR , I currently filled for my spouse to join me, my PD is 8/17/21. I am a registered nurse, working with COVID patients. It draining and I really need some emotional support. I want to use that as a reason for expediate. can I call in to request for consideration, and if so how long should I wait after filling. Thank you.

Can a certified copy divorce decree from the court be used at the US embassy if you can't find originals?

Need I sadly more?

Finished at 1pm CST, Houston office, Saturday August 14th, 2021. It had been a long journey.

I cannot believe mine has ended and someone else's is beginning.

Mods, pin this. @millefleur @TBoneTX

To future readers

There are 3 ways of obtaining PP.

1. Apply via PO or PP agents
2. Apply at your local ASC - American embassy at your country
3. Apply at one of the 26 regional PP Agencies in the US

I am only gonna touch on 2 & 3 as apparently, there is a sudden rush for international travel.

For 2.

For this, you can leave the US anytime without US PP. However, before you leave, go to your local embassy website and check if they require appointment to visit them. If they do, secure one and make sure your travel plans/ timeframe falls within your ASC's processing times. You can then leave US. Just make sure the ASC appointment falls within their processing times. I cannot stress this enough. I do not want someone to leave and say @Timona said I could leave anytime. All that being said, you will still have to provide your ACS with itinerary that shows you will be departing within 72 hours of obtaining the PP.

Example: I secured an ASC appointment. I come back on the 21st of September. I managed to get an appointment at my ASC for the 7th of September as my local ASC takes 2 week to process.

For 3

Urgent Travel Service: Some agencies and centers are also offering extremely limited appointments for customers who have urgent international travel in the next 72 hours (3 business days) for reasons other than a life-or-death emergency. You may schedule an appointment if you are traveling within 2 weeks or need a foreign visa within 4 weeks; however, the appointment cannot occur more than 3 business days before your date of travel, or 10 days if you require a visa. Call 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, Mondays through Fridays. Our appointment line for Urgent Travel Service is closed on weekends and federal holidays.

To explain the red part with an example: Today is August 11th. So available appointments are from now till August 24th. So you can call today and get an appointment anywhere between now and August 24th. However the likelihood of you getting an appointment within the first 9 out the 13 days is unlikely as they might have been filled long ago. That is why I would suggest calling early and booking anywhere from 10 to 13 days out. Booked date has to be within 72 hours (3 business days) of travel. So if I call today and make an appointment for 24th, I need to be travelling by 27th. Weekends do not count as business hours/ days.

Now that we have explained rule, how do we get appointment under 3?

Dial 877-487-2778 and quickly punch in 11224 then press 4 again if it starts talking, regardless of what option you are looking for. This is just to get you past the annoying automated system. If you get a hanging tone afterwards, that means you will not be connected. Hang up and try later. However, if after punching the 1122....you hear " This call will be monitored & recorded for blaa blaa blaa" bingo, you are going to be connected. Just wait. Average hold times is around 1 - 1.5 hours. DO NOT HANG up even if after 1 hour it tells you that you have another 1.5 hours to go. Surprisingly, it will later re-adjust and the next update will say you have 30 mins. Thereafter, the hold times will keep decreasing.

DOS hold times are pretty accurate though. I give them props for that. It is not the normal bait and switch that we are used to when we call ATT.

I have found out the best time to connect is by calling around 7:30am CST or 2:15pm CST.

I got an appointment for this for Houston for next week. If I get PP, I will cancel my ASC appointment. It was easier to get ASC upto 2 weeks ago as getting US appointment was difficult due to bots which would snatch all online appointments and sell for profit. DOS has now since changed that such that the only way to get an appointment at one of the local PPA is by calling.